Father, sons find need for speed at Northern Michigan Speedway

ELMIRA — Most students his age spend their free time playing video games and conducting scientific experiments.

But 13-year old Joey Noeske holds bragging rights over his fellow Gaylord Middle School classmates.

And it comes from behind the wheel of his No. 15 Pure Stock 4-cylinder truck, which he races each Saturday at Northern Michigan Speedway.

“It’s nice to be able to tell friends I drive without a driver’s license,” Noeske said. “The first time I drove I was 10. Not many people can say that.”

But Joey isn’t the only Noeske his mother Barb has to agonize about on race day. Two others — Joey’s older brother Tyler and his father Andy — rev their engines alongside the fast fleet of cars in Elmira.

The rush of watching her entire family put their lives at risk each week was initially daunting for Barb. But since, the four-month gauntlet of racing has brought the family closer.

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But better yet — Barb doesn’t have to worry about her children on weekend nights, nor does she worry about them getting into trouble.

“When they come home, they go straight to bed,” the 37-year-old mom said. “They’re always sleeping in late on Sundays, too. It really must wear them out.”

It was a hobby Joey and Tyler picked up from their father Andy, who has become a feared legend as the points leader in this year’s championship. He’s in his ninth season racing competitively.

Andy admits he shared his passion with his sons, but said he never forced racing into their interests.

The family introduced its second racer— Tyler — four years ago when he and Andy took a trip downstate while Barb was on vacation.

When the duo came back to their home in Vanderbilt, Tyler owned his first racecar.

“It’s a blast,” Tyler said. “I’ve learned a ton about racing and even more about working on cars.”

Last year Joey joined the duo to form a contingent of Noeske racers all speeding around the oval with their black machines emblazoned with hot-orange No. 15 lettering on the side. In his first full season Joey has maintained second place in his Pure Stock division, while Tyler currently sits in third place in the Pro Stock class.

The ironic part about the group comes from their racing style. Andy’s hard-nosed style has paid dividends, but only is partially present in each of his sons’ driving technique.

Tyler’s reserved style matches his personality, while Joey is often more aggressive than his truck can handle.

It’s a niche the Noeske family has found, and one Andy doesn’t mind consuming each Saturday in the summer.

As a former 82nd Airborne for the United States Army, he said the thrill of racing is similar to the rush he felt jumping from airplanes. And while his family is fairing well in this year’s circuit, he said there remains room for improvement.

Andy said nerves disappear when the car hits the track, but another feeling — temper — can be any racers biggest downfall.

So that’s why he spends a majority of his time as a mentor, advising them to maintain their aggression even when they can’t find the correct driving line on the track.

And if success is any indicator of Andy’s tutelage, these Noeske’s will be on the track for years to come.